𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙄𝙐𝙏𝙐

The constant murmur of Starbucks felt like background white noise, until Thiago's world came to a screeching halt. His mother was still complaining about the price of the drinks while Matías and Abigail shared a private laugh, but Thiago was no longer there. His eyes were fixed on a high table near the window.

There you were. But you weren't alone, and that was the first blow of reality for him. To your left, Spreen was checking something on his phone with that carefree and protective air that always characterized him; to your right, Carrera was gesturing animatedly, making you laugh in that way that Thiago no longer remembered how to provoke.

Seeing your brother and his best friend with you was a visual reminder that, after the breakup, you had regained your refuge, away from the judgmental eyes of his family.

Thiago felt a pang of something he couldn't quite place: jealousy? regret? fear? He remembered their last fight, his mother's cold words that "you weren't right for him," and how he, little by little, had let himself be convinced while his interest shifted to someone else. Seeing Spreen there—who had never truly gotten over Thiago—made the situation doubly dangerous.

—Could it be her?

Thiago wondered in a mental whisper, feeling like he was running out of air.

The storm is coming, suddenly, Thiago's mother stopped talking. She followed her son's lost gaze and her eyes narrowed as she recognized you.

"It can't be... Is that the girl?" his mother blurted out in a tone loud enough to make Matías and Abigail turn their heads as well.
Matías let out an awkward chuckle, recognizing Spreen immediately. The atmosphere at Thiago's table turned icy, while at yours, Carrera's laughter and your brother's calm demeanor felt like a parallel universe to which Thiago was no longer invited.

Thiago's table is a monument to awkwardness. His mother has just made a dismissive comment under her breath about "people who make noise in public places," clearly referring to Carrera's laughter. Matías and Abigail exchange superior glances, while Thiago can't stop staring at you, torn between guilt over how things ended and envy at seeing you in such good company.
At your table, the atmosphere is electric and real. Spreen is sitting across from you, stirring the ice in his drink with a straw, while Carrera tells you an exaggerated anecdote that makes you burst out laughing. You're happy, and that's what hurts Thiago the most.
Breaking point:
Suddenly, the silence at Thiago's table is broken when his mother says: — "It's a good thing you distanced yourself from that circle, son. Look at the spectacle they put on."
Spreen, who has a keen ear for any disrespect shown to her sister, stops playing it cool. She slowly raises her gaze and fixes her cold eyes directly on Thiago's mother's. The tension is palpable.